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1.18.2023

Wadi Al-Rummah flows again in the Saudi desert

The Wadi Al-Rummah, one of the longest river valleys in Saudi Arabia, is in flood following heavy rains in the country, much to the delight of Saudi citizens.

The heavy rains that have swept through Saudi Arabia over the past two weeks have not only brought flooding to urban areas, but quite the opposite! The more intense and extensive than usual rainfall has had the merit of irrigating Wadi Al-Rummah, one of the longest river systems in the kingdom, which had been almost dried up for years and was partially blocked by sand dunes.

But since the water is flowing again on this 600 km long stretch of desert, the area has become a real tourist attraction for the Saudis. They rush to the desert to stroll along the water’s edge, and even indulge in some water sports, such as jet-skiing. Others have even been seen riding horses around the waterholes, and venturing out to ford water here and there. Artists are even spotted trying to immortalize these rare moments.

 

A rare phenomenon

Geological studies conducted in the Wadi al-Rummah show that the river flows at full capacity about three times every 100 years. The last notable irrigations in the valley were in 1945, 1982, 1987, and more recently in 2004, 2008 and 2018. In the last century 1818, the river valley was flooded for 40 days, and in 1838 for 22 days.

See also

VIDEO – Impressive images of flooding in Petra, Jordan

Published on 18 January 2023

#Arabie Saoudite

#Saudi Arabia